Team Herald
MARGAO: Claiming that the filthy condition of the wholesale fish market at Margao is a health hazard, Margao Wholesale Fish Traders Association (MWFTA) has threatened not to pay the fees if the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) fails to take action immediately.
At the same time, MWFTA has also said that they are ready for fish testing for formalin at any point in time and as many times.
Addressing media persons Ibrahim Moulana, President of MWFTA informed that the association will be submitting a memorandum to SGPDA and Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant in the next couple of days, in order to highlight the issue, they will be deliberating on the problem with Health Minister Vishwajit Rane for an immediate solution.
“The wholesale fish market has become a mess. People will think a hundred times if they witness the unhygienic conditions over here. As the fishing ban is coming to an end very soon, it will lead to more mess,” he claimed.
He claimed that the SGPDA is collecting nearly Rs. 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh on daily basis, but failed to put in place the conditions over here.
Claiming that there is no required space for the unloading of the fish at the wholesale fish market, MWFTA demanded more land of 20,000 square meters near the market for parking purposes.
“Now, we have decided to meet the Health Minister and deliberate on the issue pertaining to the health hazard at the wholesale fish market. It is an issue of serious concern and hence we want to highlight the unhygienic conditions over here,” Moulana said.
He said neither the association nor any fishing community engaged in business activities at the market was taken into confidence before going ahead with the construction of the modern market project over here.
“This market is meant for the fishing community but we don’t understand why the authorities are not interested in taking us into confidence,” he charged.
Reacting to the fish test for formalin, Moulana informed that fish vehicles entering the state are being checked and fish are being tested at the border and thereafter again testing for formalin is done at the wholesale fish market.
“We are ready for any number of tests of fish for formalin. We, the wholesale traders, always supplied formalin-free fish to the people of Goa. Everybody is free to do a test if they have any doubts,” he added.
When asked about the fish being transported by railways, he said without proper documentation railways don’t allow the fish.
“Our issue is that wholesale fish traders are ready for any test on fish, but it is the look out of the public if the Food and Drugs Administration is not disclosing the testing results,” Moulana stated.
